Covered-blade type mop and the like



March 8, 1955 1. J. NlCOLl COVERED-BLADE TYPE MOP AND THE LIKE 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1950 March 8, 1955 I. J. NlCOLl 2,703,424

COVERED-BLADE TYPE MOP AND THE LIKE Filed March 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent COVERED-BLADE TYPE MOP AND THE LIKE Ida J. Nicoli, Framingham, Mass.

Application March 18, 1950, Serial No. 150,522

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-228) This invention relates to improvements in mops and the like. More particularly it provides an improved cleaning implement which may be employed as a mop but which is more especially designed and adapted for efficient and effective cleaning of wall surfaces close up to ceilings without streaking or marring the ceiling finish, and close up to mop-boards, moldings, etc., as well as for cleaning the mop-boards and moldings themselves, and window panes and window frames and sashes.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a cleaning implement having a rigid blade member connected to an angularly related handle, with a predetermined amount of 'resilience at the connection between the blade and the handle, the blade having a sl p-on cleaning member covering both of its surfaces includ ng a sponge element, or the like, which may extend selectively, over either of the two surfaces of the blade.

Another object is to provide a cleaning element having an elongate rigid blade member having three generally right-angularly related thin and straight edges and having an integral curved heel portion at one end of the blade resiliently connected to a handle portion disposed at an acute angle to the plane of the blade, the blade being covered by a slip-on bag removably secured on the blade and having a cleaning element at one side of the bag extending over the full area of one side of the rigid blade.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure and effectiveness of mop-like cleaning implements and particularly such implements designed for cleaning wall surfaces close up to ceilings, mopboards, moldings, and the like.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cleaning implement embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the cleaning implement of Fig. 1, with the blade-covermg bag omitted;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the implement of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the blade covering bag of the implement shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the cleaning implement of Fig. 1 in reversed position and with the blade covering bag in reversed position on the blade;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of clean ng implement having a wider blade, a bag similar to the Figs. 1, 4-6 bag being shown by dotted lines;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cleaning implement of Fig. 7, with the bag dotted in position on the blade.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of still another modification of bag-holding blade;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modified bag for fitting over the blade of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the strip clamping means on the bag of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1-6 thereof, a flat relatively thin but rigid blade 10 preferably will be formed of a suitable metal, and its forward end is shown turned over upon itself at 12 to reinforce this edge of the blade, although such reinforcement is not necessary in many cases, as when the sheet metal itself inherently is stifi enough and rigid enough to resist deformation in use without any leading edge reinforcement.

The opposite end of the blade has an integrally formed upwardly curved heel portion 14 which extends integrally to form the inverted channel portion 16 whose wall 2,703,424 Patented Mar. 8, 1955 which is remote from the heel portion 14 is integrally connected to oppositely disposed wing portions 18 which are brought toward each other to form the socket portion 20 which receives the handle 22. The handle may be secured in the socket portion 20 in any suitable manner as by the screw 24.

The sheet metal of which the blade and its handle connection is formed will be sufficiently rigid to provide substantial resistance to yielding as between the blade and the handle, yet the curved heel portion 14 and the inverted channel portion 16 provide for limited resilient yielding when a predetermined substantial pressure is applied to the handle with the covered blade 10 pressed fiat against a surface which is being cleaned. The sheet metal has tapering extent from the inverted channel portion to the socket portion as best seen in Fig. 3.

According to the invention, the blade 10 is covered by a slip-on bag 26 which may be made of any suitably strong fabric, with a cleaning element 28 on one surface of the bag. As best seen in Figs. 4 and S, the bag comprises two pieces of fabric 30, 32 each of which has a marginal portion turned inward along three edges, and the two pieces are stitched together along the same three edges. The piece 32 has tapering extent at 33 beyond the non-stitched edge of the piece 30, and a strip 34 is stitched across the end of the extension 33, with projecting strap portions equipped respectively with male and female fastener elements 36, 38. The cleaning element 28, such as a sheet of sponge rubber, is secured to the outer side of the fabric sheet 32, it conveniently being stitched along three edges by the same stitches that secure the fabric pieces 30, 32 together, although it may be separately secured in place, if desired, in any suitable manner.

The fourth edge of the cleaning element 28 may be stitched at 42 only to the fabric sheet 32, thus leaving the bag open along the unstitched edge of the fabric sheet 30. Preferably the cleaning element 28 extends a substantial distance over the extension 33 of fabric sheet 32 so that, when the bag is arranged on the blade 10, as in Fig. l, the cleaning element 28 extends a substantial distance over the upwardly curved heel portion 14 of the blade. The extension 33 of fabric sheet 32 extends across the opening of the inverted channel portion 16 to a location adjacent to the socket portion 20, and the projecting strap portions of strip 34 are brought together around the tapering metal, between the inverted channel portion 16 and socket portion 20, and secured by the fastening elements 36, 38. These strap portions, of course, might be made long enough to be tied together, or may be secured together in any other suitable manner.

The implement of Fig. 1, with the bag 26 thereon, constitutes an extremely effective and efiicient device for cleaning wall surfaces, mop-boards, moldings, window panes, etc., the covered blade being capable of cleaning in corners, and close up to mop-boards, moldings, window frames, etc. Also, as shown in Fig. 6, it may be turned over and used for cleaning difficultly accessible surfaces, with the bag 26 reversed on the blade 10 so that the cleaning element 28 is on the opposite side of the blade from its position in Fig. 1. The implement, used as in Fig. 6, constitutes a convenient and effective means for cleaning the top surfaces of Window frames, doors, high up moldings, picture frames, and the like.

The modified form of cleaning implement, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, has a wider rigid blade 10' over which a bag 26, similar to the bag 26 of Figs. 1-6, may be secured, with its cleaning element 28' on either side of the blade. Blade 10' has stiffening ribs 11 extending therealong in spaced parallelism, and it should be understood that the blade 10 of the Figs. 1-6 embodiment may be provided with similar ribs, if desired.

The blade 10, however, has an upwardly curving and tapering heel portion 14' which extends obliquely, directly to the integrally formed socket portion 20, thereby providing a somewhat less resilient connection between the blade and the handle, as compared with the Figs. l-6 form. Also, as best seen in Fig. 7, the wing portions of metal which are brought toward each other to form the socket portion 20' have their opposite adjacent edges turned inward to provide a key for engaging in a slot 23 in handle 22'. The handle is held against rotation in socket portion 20' by the coaction of the key and slot, and a set screw 24' may be provided to secure the handle against longitudinal movement in the socket portion 20.

Fig. 9 shows a bag-holding device whose heel portion 15 extends abruptly upward from the plane of the blade, whereby the back of the heel portion can fit into angular regions as the covered blade is being wiped over plane surfaces adjacent to mop-boards, window frames, etc. Fig. 9 shows how the sheet material extending between the heel portion and the handle socket may be stiffened by turning edge portions of the said sheet material upward and somewhat inward. A generally similar stilfening effect is attained by the up-turned edge portions of the sheet material which connects the blade and the socket in the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8. The stiffening ribs 11' of the blade of the Fig. 9 device extend somewhat up the wall at the heel portion 15, thus increasing the stiffness at the juncture of the connecting sheet metal with the blade. Obviously such ribs may be employed in any of the earlier described blades.

A modified type of bag 27 is shown in Fig. 10, for engaging over the blade of the Fig. 9 device, with the cleaning element 29 of the bag on either side of the blade. This bag 27 has securing strips 35 stitched at 35 inward from the side edges of the bag, and the blade of the Fig. 9 device has side notches 13 within which the strips 35 can engage when the blade is inserted in bag 27, and the strips drawn around the notched portion of the blade to be removably secured by a securing means 37 on the bag. As shown, the securing means is a bent wire clamping hook stitched to the bag with its hook portion 37 disposed for receiving and gripping the strips 35 when they are slipped under the hook. Obviously, any other suitable securing means may be provided for removably holding the strips 35 in bag maintaining relation around the blade.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cleaning implement comprising a member having a thin rigid blade portion and a substantially rigid heel portion integral with the blade portion and having substantially a permanent relation to the blade portion; said heel portion extending away from the plane of the blade portion at one end of the latter, a handle socket connected to the heel portion of said member and relatively rigidly disposed at an acute angle to said plane of the blade portion, said blade portion and said socket extending generally in opposite directions from said heel portion, flexible sheet material removably maintained in covering relation to at least one side of the blade portion of said memher, the blade and heel portion of the latter said member having size substantially equal to that of the said sheet material, and a flexible cleaning element secured exteriorly to said sheet material and having extent over substantially the entire area of said blade and over a substantial adjacent area of the heel portion of said member where it extends away from the plane of the blade portion of said member.

2. A cleaning implement comprising a member made of sheet material and having a rigid blade portion, a heel portion and a handle socket portion all integrally formed of the said sheet material, said blade portion being flat with substantially all portions thereof in a common plane,

and said heel portion being substantially rigid and having substantially a permanent relation to the blade, said heel portion having substantial extent in direction away from said common plane of the blade portion at one end of the latter, and said handle socket portion being an integral extension of said heel portion relatively rigidly disposed and maintained approximately at a predetermined acute angle to said common plane of the blade portion, said blade and handle socket portions extending generally in opposite directions from said heel portion, flexible sheet material removably maintained in covering relation to at least one side of said rigid blade portion, and a cleaning element secured exteriorly to said flexible sheet material and having extent over substantially the entire area of said rigid blade portion and over a substantial adjacent area of said heel portion where it extends away from said common plane of the rigid blade portion of said member.

3. In a cleaning implement having a flat rigid blade and, at one end of the blade, an integral substantially rigid heel portion extending away from the plane of the blade and supporting a handle socket in a substantially rigid relation to said blade and at an acute angle to the said plane of the blade, the combination therewith of a bag made of flexible sheet material engaging over said rigid blade and having an extension part engaging over one side of said heel portion, and a flexible cleaning element secured exteriorly to said bag and extending over an area thereof at one side of the bag substantially equal to the area of said blade, and also secured exteriorly to and extending over a substantial portion of the area of said extension part of the bag, whereby said cleaning element, when the bag is arranged on said blade, extends over substantially the entire area of the blade at one side thereof and has an integral generally angularly related portion extending along said heel portion away from said plane of the blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 856,446 Collins June 11, 1907 964,453 Robarge July 12, 1910 1,114,163 Mansfield Oct. 20, 1914 1,420,180 Casmire June 20, 1922 1,494,018 Randolph May 13, 1924 1,675,736 Sturgis July 3, 1928 1,676,115 Schwarz, Sr. July 3, 1928 1,804,504 Henderson May 12, 1931 1,859,747 Neale May 24, 1932 1,973,093 Moore Sept. 11, 1934 2,042,546 Meier June 2, 1936 2,062,065 Miley Nov. 24, 1936 2,068,162 Borchers Ian. 19, 1937 2,249,559 Hilty July 15, 1941 2,259,547 Booth Oct. 21, 1941 2,269,424 Bernstein Ian. 13, 1942 2,378,644 McCleave June 19, 1945 2,516,396 Kersh July 25, 1950 2,581,563 Vaughn Jan. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,531 Great Britain 1913 222,516 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1942 

